Supporting element for electrical devices



May 26, 1931. F. H. HUBBARD 0,

SUPPORTING ELEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES.-

F'iled Aug. '7. 1929 boxes Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK H. HUBBARD, O1 W AUwATOSA, WISCONSIN, A SSIGNOR T0 CUTLER-HAMMER, INC 0] MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SUPIORTIN G ELEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES Application fled Augult 7, 1929. Serial No. 884,157.

This invention relates to improvements in supporting elements for electrical devices.

Where electric switches or plug receptacles are mounted in the ordinary wall outlet it is desirable to provide means for insuring substantially flush alinement of the former with respect to the finished surface of the wall even though the outlet boxes may be set crooked in the wall. Also, it is extremely desirable that the device be firmly attached to its outlet box without subject ing the wall surface to an undue pressure and the present invention has among its objects to provide simple and eflicient supporting elements for accomplishing the foregoing and other desirable results.

Another object is to provide a one-piece supporting element having a wall engaging art and an attaching lug which may be ent relative to the wall engaging part to permit such lug to be clamped against an improperly set outlet box without impairing the alining function of the support.

Another and more specific object is to provide an element of the aforementioned character wherein the attaching lug is bendable as'aforestated after the element is engaged with the wall and without damage to the wall surface.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the invention which will now be described, it beingunderstood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an enlarged plan view of one form of supporting element embodying the invention. f

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an outlet box fitted in a wall and having an electric switch supported therein by elements similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3,a portion of thejlush plate or cover being broken away for purposes of illustration.

I Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of supporting element constructed in accordance with the invention. and

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views of further modifications.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4. the numeral 15 designates a flat base portion of the supporting element. Base portion 15 may be of any desired contour, and as shown in Fig.

4 the same is adapted to fit within a correspondingly shaped recess 16 in the insulat mg casing 17 of a switch, the actuating element of which is shown at 18 in Fig. 3. The recess 16 is further countersunk or otherwise-formed to accommodate the substantially elliptical depression 19 in base portion 15. Depression 19 is provided with a pair of tapped openings 20 and 21, the opening 21 being adapted to receive the shank 22 of a screw which penetrates the insulating casing 17 to rigidly secure base portion 15 thereto. Opening 20 is adapted to receive the shank of a screw 23 for securing one end of the flush plate or cover 24 in position.

Slightly offset upwardly, by means of the bent portion 25, and extending outwardly in a plane parallel to the plane of base portion 15 is an attaching lug 26 integral with said base portion,said lug preferably having a substantially elliptical perforation 27 with a beveled edge 28 to receive the beveled head 29 of a screw for clamping lug 26 against the usual lug 30 on the outlet box 31.

Also integral with base portion 15 and offset upwardly therefrom to lie in-the same plane as the lug 26 is a wall or plaster engaging part designated in general by the numeral 32. Said part 32 comprises arms 33 and 34 and a span 35 integral therewith, said arms 33, 34 and span 35'being separated or spaced from the lug 26 by means of the connecting slots 36, 37 and 38, respectively.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the numerals 39 and 40 designate the wall with such surface, although of course it might be offset inwardly to the same or a different degree. By merely bending inwardly the attaching lug 26 to the required degree, as illustrated at the upper end of Fig. 3, the aforementioned offsetting or misalinement of lug 30 of the outlet box may be compensated for; it being noted that such bending of lug 26 may be effected without distortion or misalinement of the plaster engaging part 32 with respect to the top surface 45 (Fig. 3) of the switch. By the arrangement described the necessity for employment of the usual washers or spacers (not shown) between the lugs 26 and 30 is avoided. Moreover, by providing for fiexure ofthe lug 26 with respect to base portion 15 and plaster engaging part 32 said lug 26 may be brought into proper engaging relation withlug 30 (when the latter is offset or misalined as aforedescribed) without causing the portion 32 to engage the plaster with such a degree of forceasto crush the latter.

Such bending of lug 26 may be effected by inserting a screw driver or the like within perforation 27 and then prying saidlug downwardly. as will be obvious. On the other hand, if a sufficiently thin metal stock isemployed in constructing the element aforedescribed, the lug 26 may be bent downwardly by merely applying manual or thumb pressure. facilitated by providing lug 26 with a weakening perforation, such as that indicated at 26" in Fig. 4. As will be obvious, the arrangement may be such that the lugs 26 will be more readily bendable than the plaster engaging portions 32, so that upon driving home of the screws 29 lugs 26 will'be brought into proper engaging relationwith lugs 30, 30

, whereas the plaster engaging portions will function to maintain flush alinement of the switch or other electrical device with respect to the plaster surface.

The element shown 1n Fig. 5 is'identical in many respects with that shown in Figs. 1 to '4, and corresponding parts havebeen given like numerals of reference. In this construction, however, the supporting lug 26 is only indirectly connected with base portion 15; that is to say, through the medium of the plaster engaging portion from which it 'isseparated on three sides by the connecting slots 36, 37 and 38. Lug '26) mayi be bent in the manner aforedescribed to provide for proper securenient thereof to the outlet box, without bending of the plaster engaging part 32 with respect to base portion 15.

Fig. 6 shows an element quite like that of Fig. 5, but in which the slots 36 37 =1 and 38. are preferably made slightly narrower to provide for increased resistance to bending of the arms 33, 34?; and said slots 36, 37 con}. verge or approach each other to provide for decreased resistance to bending of the lug t-girli Such manual bending may be- 26. Also in this form the base portion 15 is provided with a pair of spaced tapped openings 21* to provide for attachment thereof to an electrical device, and an intermediate tapped-opening 20 to receive the shank of a cover plate attaching screw, such as shown at 23 in Fig. 3. Thus the lug 26 in Fig. 6

6, but in reversed relation as compared with the latter. In this arrangement the lug 26 is likewise more readily bendable than the plaster engaging portion 32, and the element functionsin. the novel manner aforedescribed. The base portion 15 of Fig. 7 may be of any desired form, but as shown the same is provided with a pair of relatively widely spaced tapped openings 21 for attachment of the element to an electrical device of special form, and an integral lug l5 'having a tapped opening 20 for reception of the cover plate.attaching screw is likewise provided.

It is of course to be understood that su porting elements of the several forms here-1n disclosed might be formed integrally with the numerous types of supporting strips and straps with which switches and plug receptacles and other electrical devices are commonly provided.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is a 1. The combination with an electrical device to be supported in a wall outlet box of supporting means for saiddevice attached thereto and having projecting lugs to be at-.

tached' to the outlet box and projecting wall engaging parts to position said device relative to the wall, said lugs and wall engaging parts being coordinated to occupy the same plane and said lugs being bendable outof the plane" 'of said parts to approach the outlet box.

thereto and having projecting wall engaging I parts and lugs for attachment to the outlet box,'said parts and lugs being grouped and n those of each group being formed of a single piece of sheet metal cut to permit bending of the lugs relative to the wall engaging parts.

3. The combination with .an electrical device to be supported in 'a wall outlet box, "of supporting meansfor said device attached thereto and having projecting bendable lugs for attachment to the outlet box and projects ing "wall engaging parts -to aline said device with the wall and to prevent its displacement V by bending of said lugs to approach the outlet box.

a 4. The combination with an'electrical device to be supported in a wall outlet box, of 5 supporting means for said device attached thereto and having projecting wall engaging parts and lugs .for attachment to the outlet box, said parts and lugs being grouped and those of each group comprising a sheet metal I o stamping'formed to permit the attaching lugs to be bentrelative to the wall engaging parts and to render the latter substantially nonyielding to bending pressure exerted on said ugs. V a 15 5. A sheet metal supporting element of the character set forth having a wall engaging part and an attaching lug bendable independently of and relative to said part.

6. A unitary sheet metal supportingel'e- 2o ment for an electrical device, whichcomprises a base portion, a projecting attaching lug and a projecting wall engaging part, vsaid lug being bendable relative to said part and the latter being substantially non-yielding to 25 bending pressure exerted on said lug.

a 7. A unitary sheet metal supporting element for an electrical device, which comprises a. base portion, a projecting wall engaging part and an attaching lug within the contour an of said wall engaging part, said element being cut to permit said lug to be bent relative. to said wall engaging part.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

- FRANK H. HUBBARD. 

